Dingli, St Andrews share spoils in thrilling 3-3 draw

St Andrews 3
Dingli Swallows 3

\n

This was an excellent match which saw St Andrews dropping two precious points in their bid to win promotion. Dingli striker Roderick Farrugia scored a hat-trick.

After just seven minutes, Robert Guzman placed the ball inside the Dingli net but the goal was disallowed for offside. Two minutes later, it was Dingli who broke the deadlock when Farrugia concluded some fine work by Jeremy Agius.

However, in the 11th minute St Andrews obtained the equaliser when Anthony Galea headed in from close distance.

Play was balanced but on 43 minutes the Saints were unlucky when an attempt by Andrea Zammit Tabona hit the bar.

The entertaining fare was extended into the second half with the Saints going close twice from free-kicks taken by Roberto Pisani and Galea. Right on the hour, they took the lead through substitute Anthony Gera from a Sant Fournier cross.

Dingli's reaction produced an equaliser by Farrugia with nine minutes to go and the same player scored again soon after to make it 3-2.

Three minutes from time a Roberto Pisani free-kick led to the Saints' merited equaliser by Michael Mangion.

Referee: Mariano Debono.

Rabat Ajax 1
Mellieha 2

Rabat Ajax suffered their 12th defeat of the season and now seem doomed to play Third Division football next season. For Mellieha, this was a crucial victory as they continue to struggle for survival.

Mellieha took the lead after just nine minutes through a low shot by Mario Debono but thereafter it was Rabat who took the upperhand. Mellieha goalkeeper David Vella made fine saves to deny Michael Micallef and Darren Galea.

Rabat kept up the pressure after the break but Mellieha created the better chances on the counter, led by Debono and Mark Deguara. Their efforts were saved by Edwards.

In the 58th minute Mellieha doubled their lead. Edwards stopped Galea's drive but the loose ball came to Deguara who hammered home.

Wayne Borg St John was unlucky for Mellieha when the woodwork denied him a goal.

Twelve minutes from time Rabat were awarded a penalty for a foul on Alan Zahra. The latter scored from the spot but the goal was not enough on the day.

Referee: Karl Frendo Cumbo.

Melita 1
Tarxien Rainbows 4

Leaders Tarxien Rainbows closed in on promotion after chalking up their 13th victory of the season. Jesmond Zerafa's team are still unbeaten after 18 matches.

The Amateurs had several regular players missing from their line-up. They are now in deep relegation trouble.

Matthew Borg II tormented the Tarxien rearguard in the opening stages but on the half hour, the Rainbows took the lead, thanks to Alan Tabone's spectacular strike.

Just before the interval it was 2-0 when Simon Shead banged home a rebound after Sapiano had partially saved on Carlos Camenzuli.

Manwel Caruana made it 3-0 six minutes after the break.

Substitute Nicky Curmi pulled one back for Melita on 68 minutes but Tarxien soon restored their three-goal lead, Camenzuli the scorer.

Referee: Esther Farrugia.

Qormi 0
Sta Venera Lightnings 0

Qormi failed to win the three points despite dominating for long stretches.

However, Sta Venera defended stoutly and merited the point for their commendable fighting spirit even though they had four key players missing through suspension.

Saints' keeper Carbonaro was alert in the opening stages to deny Qormi's Carmel Formosa.

Michael Borg Olivier hit just wide from a good position and on 22 minutes an attempt by Chris Ellul was well saved by Carbonaro. The latter did well just before the break to stop Borg Olivier's overhead kick and Gordian Ohaegbu's shot.

Qormi enjoyed territorial supremacy after the break but despite their endeavour they failed to find a way past Carbonaro.

Near the end it was the Saints who almost snatched a winner from a quick counter-break but Kevin Vella missed his chance.

Referee: George Bitri.

Standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Tarxien Rainbows	18	13	5	0	34	10	44
St Andrews	18	10	5	3	29	14	35
Qormi	18	8	8	2	23	11	32
Vittoriosa Stars	18	9	1	8	17	21	28
Gzira United (-3)	18	7	5	6	20	17	23
Attard	18	6	4	8	25	21	22
Zebbug Rangers	18	6	3	9	17	23	21
Dingli Swallows	18	5	6	7	17	24	21
Melita	18	6	3	9	19	27	21
Mellieha	18	6	2	10	25	27	20
Santa Venera	18	4	6	8	15	28	18
Rabat Ajax	18	2	4	12	18	36	10

Division Three - Gudja Utd promoted to Div. Two

Gudja United 1
Sirens 0

Jean Pierre Abdilla steered Gudja United to Division Two, his 85th-minute goal giving his side a 1-0 victory over Sirens.

Gudja will now fight it out with Gharghur for the Third Division Championship.

Sirens' youngsters made it very difficult for their opponents with their organised defensive play. Gudja assumed the initiative during the first period but could not find a way through.

On 29 minutes, Gudja missed an easy opportunity through Abdilla and Sirens twice went close through efforts by Juergen Mifsud and Alex Debono.

Just before the interval, Louis Falzon hit just wide from a good position and on another occasion, a close-range header by Abdilla was well saved by Romeo Schembri.

Gudja increased the pressure during the second period but had to wait until five minutes from time to net the all-important goal, Abdilla firing home following a pass by James Spiteri.

Referee: Paul Apap.

Siggiewi 4
Ta' Xbiex 0

Siggiewi met no problems in disposing of the feeble challenge offered by Ta' Xbiex who, following this defeat, will have to re-apply to take part in the Third Division League.

Turning on the pressure from the early stages, Siggiewi were denied by goalkeeper Fulvio Azzopardi.

Winston Fenech went close to giving Siggiewi the lead on two occasions before they finally broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute through a header by Joe Falzon.

Just before the break, Azzopardi again saved attempts by Antonio Galea and Fenech but three minutes after the restart Falzon nodded home from a Dominic Camilleri free-kick and on the hour, Ryan Agius increased Siggiewi's lead.

Three minutes from time, Pierre Spiteri headed in from a cross by Vincent Saliba for a 4-0 final scoreline.

Referee: Duncan Sultana

Kirkop United 2
Pembroke Athleta 0

Kirkop United, coached by former Valletta stalwart Leonard Farrugia, scored twice in the opening half to make sure of the points and edge closer to a place in the play-offs.

Pembroke's Andrew Bonello was almost on target after six minutes with Kirkop replying through a shot by Aldo Pace which was saved by Debattista.

In the 15th minute Kirkop went ahead through Pace and soon after they went close to doubling their lead but Ramon Mallia wasted his chance.

Five minutes before the break Kirkop doubled their lead. Ramon Mallia delivered a perfect pass to Etienne Bonnici who hit home from close in.

Pembroke played better after the break with Kirkop keeper Mizzi showing his mettle with saves on shots from Duncan Edwards, Joe Gauci and Jeffrey Fenech.

Kirkop held tight as Pembroke's comeback bid proved to no avail.

Referee: Mario Apap.

Zurrieq 1
Fgura United 2

Zurrieq showed the better football for most of the 90 minutes but the points went to Fgura who thus maintained their chances of making the play-offs.

Zurrieq dictated the run of play during the first period. Early on, they went close through efforts by Philip Farrugia and Franklin Borg.

Fgura replied with an Eric Lia shot which fell a whisker away from goal. They took the lead against the run of play in the 35th minute through Duncan Mangion.

Zurrieq came back at Fgura during the second half and drew level on 74 minutes with a Philip Farrugia goal from a free-kick.

In the closing stages, Farrugia was again close with a low drive that was well saved by Cassar, but a minute from time Fgura scored the winning goal through Ivan Cassar.

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.

Luqa St Andrews 1
Zejtun Corinthians 2

Zejtun Corinthians bolstered their chances of earning a place in the promotion play-offs thanks to this three-pointer over Luqa SA.

The Corinthians surged forward from the word go and took the lead after eight minutes when Marco Gerada hit home from a free-kick.

Colin Gatt effected a couple of fine saves to stop Zejtun from adding to their lead but after the restart Luqa took the initiative.

Now, it was the turn of Zejtun keeper Fardell to stay focused and parry shots from Mark Said and Charlo Debattista.

Zejtun created their own chances though and 13 minutes from time Vince Camilleri made it 2-0 after a Gatt blunder.

Charlo Debattista scored Luqa's consolation goal one minute from time.

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.

Xghajra Tornadoes 0
Mgarr United 2

Mgarr striker Chris Abela stole the attention for contrasting reasons. He scored his team's two goals but was then was sent off for a second booking.

Mgarr showed better qualities but despite their efforts to find the opponents' net for most of the match, they had to wait until the 82nd minute to open the scoring when Abela placed the ball beyond Xghajra keeper Keith Galea.

Xghajra had their chances after the break but their hopes were dashed with three minutes to go when Abela rammed in his second goal for Mgarr.

Excessive celebrations earned the Mgarr match-winner a second yellow card which marred his day.

Referee: Malcolm Mercieca.

Standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Gharghur	14	11	3	0	25	6	36
Gudja United	14	11	2	1	30	4	35
Sta Lucija	14	8	4	2	36	13	28
Birzebbuga	14	9	1	4	22	14	28
Kirkop United	14	7	5	2	20	8	26
Zejtun Corinthians	14	7	4	3	31	16	25
Fgura United	14	7	2	5	24	20	23
Ghaxaq	13	7	2	4	16	17	23
Pembroke	14	6	4	4	22	18	22
Siggiewi	14	5	4	5	22	18	19
Zurrieq	14	5	2	7	15	19	17
Sirens	14	4	2	8	11	19	14
Luqa SA	14	3	2	9	12	25	11
Xghajra Tornadoes	14	3	2	9	10	24	11
Mgarr United	14	3	1	10	14	27	10
Kalkara	13	1	1	11	3	26	4
Ta' Xbiex	14	0	1	13	2	41	1